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Tech Funding Ideas - Besides Grants
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Tech Funding Ideas - Besides Grants
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
What are some ideas for things that libraries can do to raise money for technology (besides grants!)?
RE: Tech Funding - Not Grants
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Nikki Collins.
One thing that we did is have a TechDrive - which solicited all kinds of technology stuff from our community. We created lists of what we knew we needed, criteria for accepting items (we didn't want really really old stuff that was no use to us, for example) and then we had a major push to the community to deliver items within a two week period.
RE: Partnerships for saving/raising money
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Nikki Collins.
Another thing is partnerships - sometimes you can get with your school district, local ISP, or whatever to come up with something that you can do *for each other* and this helps save costs on tech items or programs. In the library of the month, I noticed that the library director agreed to have the library be a drop off place for utility bills and they gave him $500 off the cost of wiring his library! Not a bad trade...
RE: Tech Funding - Not Grants
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Nikki Collins.
Another possibility is to set up challenge partnerships with a vendor in your area. If your community can meet certain milestones, some organizations will reward the library with some new technology. Circulate # books in a month, # visitors to your site, or have # many attendees to a guest speaker on a given subject and receive some equipement. Has any library used this strategy and been happy with the results?
RE: RE: Tech Funding - Not Grants
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Nikki Collins.
Our library has had a lot of success with the Funding Factory ink cartridge recycling program. We collect used cartidges and send them in to get points. With our points so far we have gotten a very nice digital camera, a docking bay, and toner for the public laser printer. We don't have to pay postage for sending in the used cartridges either. Funding Factory sends us cartons with UPS shipping labels. Residents and local businesses are glad to have a place to recycle their used cartidges too.
RE: RE: RE: Tech Funding - Not Grants
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Nikki Collins.
wow! this is a great tip. how did you hear about it?

here's the link to the funding factory:

[url http://www.fundingfactory.com/ ]http://www.fundingfactory.com/[/url]
RE: Tech Funding Ideas - Besides Grants
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Nikki Collins.
Now that it's been about half a year since this was originally posted, I am wondering whether anyone has any other ideas or success stories to share?

Don't forget, if your state is receiving a Staying Connected Grant, you have some options. They are: Public Access Computer Upgrade or Replacement, Broadband Connectivity Upgrade, Training Sustainability, and finally Technical Support Sustainability.

Contact your State Library to see what option they are choosing.
RE: RE: Tech Funding Ideas - Besides Grants
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Nikki Collins.
I know this is a grant program and this area is trying to focus on non-grants but I thought I would throw it out there. Any other NON-grant ideas come to mind?